scone.com.auDes Collison: 2018 VIP of Scone Horse Festival
DES Collison was last night announced as the VIP for this year’s Scone Horse Festival.
Des has been announcing of camp drafts, rodeos, shows and beef bonanzas for more than 45 years.
He has volunteered with the King of the Ranges since its inception and is involved with many community organisations.
Des Colllison, the well known voice of many horse events is this year’s Horse Festival VIP.
He is the well known voice of horse festival parade announcing from the roof of the Royal Hotel for 30 years.
Des started in the ring as a pol steward at the age of 8, when his dad was at the mic and would often call him in at Moonan, Gundy and Ellerston events.
Des also spent time as a peg steward, gate keeper, chute steward, barman and office worker at equine events but it was a stint riding steers that turned his attention to announcing.
“I rode locally in steer rides for three years until Bruce Parkinson who was judging said to me after I fell off again ‘you’ve either got to get better or give up’,” said Des Collison.
“I was given the chance to announce at Nundle – so I gave up (steer riding),” he said.
Des has also designed and helped build the Campdraft and Rough Riders memorial for Scone, which is situated opposite Elizabeth Park.
On the mic Des has also shown his flair at telling yards, taking out the Horse Festival Yarns Night in 1991.
Des announced the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association 50th anniversary in Maitland in 1996 and the parade of champions at the Australian Campdraft Championships at Merriwa for the bi-centennial year in 1988.
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